Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiin Women Who Have Aborted in Comparison with the Women with Normal Delivery in Ahvaz, Southwest of Iran

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondiiis an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite causing toxoplasmosis in animals and humans. Primary maternal infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is frequently associated with transplacental transmission to the fetus. However it is not certain whetherToxoplasmainfection can cause recurrent abortion. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship betweenToxoplasmainfection and abortion via detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondiiantibodies in sera of women with obstetrical problems and compare the results with control group consisting of women with history of normal delivery. Sera from 130 women with abortion and sera of 130 women with normal delivery were tested for IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondiiantibodies by ELISA method. The present study revealed 24.6% of the samples with abortion and 21.5% of the samples with normal delivery were positive for IgG antibodies. However, statistical analysis indicated no significant differences(P>0.05). In addition, IgM antibody was detected in one woman who had aborted but not in women with normal childbirth. This study showed no significant difference between the case and control groups in IgG anti-Toxoplasmaantibody but detected one sample with IgM antibodies in woman with abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to determine the relationship betweenToxoplasmainfection and abortion, anti-ToxoplasmaIgG avidity and PCR to discriminate between recent and prior infections are recommended.